HMP Manchester

Reception visits take place during a prisoner’s first few weeks in Manchester Prison at the times shown below. All other visits are booked by prisoner-led application.

The booking line opens, Monday to Thursday 8am to 4pm, and Friday 8am to midday.

Find out about call charges

Please call the booking line for up-to-date information.

All visitors must book in at the visitor’s centre 30 minutes before the visit is due to start.

Any visitor who does not arrive on time may not be allowed entry unless they have contacted POPS in the visitors centre 0161 817 5899 or 0161 817 5630.

To arrange an official video visit you can call, 0161 8175 898.

To arrange an official face to face visit, you can email [email protected].

Please note: HMP Manchester is a paperless establishment. You will not be allowed to bring documents into the establishment but you will be provided with an opportunity to print documents within legal visits, if required.

Find Manchester Prison on a map

The closest railway station is Manchester Victoria, which is about a 5-minute walk from the prison.

Manchester Piccadilly is 10 minutes from Manchester Victoria by tram or taxi.

Several local buses pass close to the prison.

There is no parking at the prison but there are two paid public car parks on Southall Street.

All visitors, aged 16 or older must prove their identity before entering the prison. Read the list of acceptable forms of ID when visiting a prison.

All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children. You may also be sniffed by security dogs.

Manchester Prison has a family-friendly dress code which means visitors should dress appropriately. You may be turned away if you are wearing items like low-cut tops, see-through or revealing clothing, or ripped jeans. Additionally, you cannot wear football shirts, uniforms (except school uniforms) or anything with offensive patterns or slogans. Ask in the visitors centre if you have questions about the dress code.

Cash is not permitted inside the prison, but visitors can purchase refreshments inside the visitor centre. You can then collect paid for items inside the visits hall. There is a maximum spend limit of £60.

There are strict controls on what you can take into Manchester Prison. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker (you will need a £1 coin) or with security. This includes pushchairs and car seats.

You will be told the rules by an officer at the start of your visit. If you break the rules, your visit could be cancelled and you could be banned from visiting again.

There is a visitors centre run by Partners of Prisoners (POPS). Family and friends can relax, buy refreshments and get advice and support from the staff. There is a play area for children.

POPS are available Monday to Thursday, 1pm to 5pm.

Centre telephone, 0161 817 5630 Find out about call charges

Manchester provides 24 Parental Contact (PCV) visits a year. These visits are facilitated in a more relaxed and less restrictive manner than general social visits.

Parental Contact Visits are available to 20 families per session. Prisoners can apply for the visits via application.

Secure video calls at this prison can be requested by prisoners only.

You will receive a notification if a prisoner has requested a video call with you.

Read more about how the Prison Video app works

Prisoners have phones in their cells which they can use between 8am and 10pm.

The phones do not accept incoming calls so prisoners will always have to call you. They have to buy phone credits to do this.

They can phone anyone named on their list of friends and family. This list is checked by security when they first arrive so it may take a few days before they are able to call.

You can also exchange voicemails using the Prison Voicemail service.

Officers may listen to phone calls as a way of preventing crime and helping keep people safe.

You can send emails to someone in Manchester Prison using the Email a Prisoner service.

You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies from the prisoner, depending on the rules at Manchester Prison.

You can write at any time.

Include the person’s name and prisoner number on the envelope.

If you do not know their prisoner number, contact Manchester Prison.

All post, apart from legal letters, will be opened and checked by officers.

National Prison Radio broadcasts into prison cells across England and Wales 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Family and friends can stay connected with their loved ones in prison by sending song requests, written messages and voice recordings. They are then read and played out on weekly episodes.

You can send in a message, and hear the show, at nationalprisonradio.com